Life As a Massage Therapist
Massage Therapist Example Perform therapeutic massages of soft tissues and joints. May assist in the assessment of range of motion and muscle strength, or propose client therapy plans.
Daily Life Of a Massage Therapist
- Perform other adjunctive therapies or treatment techniques in addition to massage.
- Maintain treatment records.
- Refer clients to other types of therapists when necessary.
- Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.
- Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
- Use complementary aids, such as infrared lamps, wet compresses, ice, and whirlpool baths to promote clients' recovery, relaxation, and well-being.
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What Every Massage Therapist Should Know
These are the skills Massage Therapists say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Massage Therapist Jobs
- Integrated Deep Tissue Massage Therapist
- Clinical Massage Therapist
- Certified Massage Therapist (CMT)
- Therapeutic Massage Technician
- Registered Massage Therapist
Job Opportunities for Massage Therapists
In the United States, there were 160,300 jobs for Massage Therapist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 26.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 42,100 new jobs for Massage Therapist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 22,600 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Massage Therapist are Washington, Utah, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Maryland, Vermont, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Massage Therapist Salary
The average yearly salary of a Massage Therapist ranges between $21,340 and $78,280.

Massage Therapists who work in Alaska, Washington, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Massage Therapists in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $34,890 |
Alaska | $82,280 |
Arizona | $42,340 |
Arkansas | $41,890 |
California | $41,460 |
Colorado | $46,190 |
Connecticut | $43,170 |
District of Columbia | $40,890 |
Florida | $46,240 |
Georgia | $37,210 |
Hawaii | $61,750 |
Idaho | $50,560 |
Illinois | $46,340 |
Indiana | $48,650 |
Iowa | $40,030 |
Kansas | $29,370 |
Kentucky | $52,960 |
Louisiana | $30,060 |
Maine | $43,450 |
Maryland | $42,430 |
Massachusetts | $53,750 |
Michigan | $42,710 |
Minnesota | $52,910 |
Mississippi | $29,080 |
Missouri | $37,100 |
Montana | $46,500 |
Nebraska | $45,340 |
Nevada | $29,620 |
New Hampshire | $47,360 |
New Jersey | $44,610 |
New Mexico | $42,260 |
New York | $52,830 |
North Carolina | $41,560 |
North Dakota | $39,640 |
Ohio | $39,370 |
Oklahoma | $41,770 |
Oregon | $64,360 |
Pennsylvania | $42,730 |
Rhode Island | $40,970 |
South Carolina | $41,440 |
South Dakota | $34,350 |
Tennessee | $44,190 |
Texas | $49,100 |
Utah | $40,880 |
Vermont | $44,580 |
Virginia | $38,990 |
Washington | $62,520 |
West Virginia | $34,750 |
Wisconsin | $42,440 |
Wyoming | $43,060 |
What Tools & Technology do Massage Therapists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Massage Therapists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Scheduling software
How do I Become a Massage Therapist?
Are there Massage Therapists education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Massage Therapist?

Where do Massage Therapists Work?

Massage Therapists work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Those interested in being a Massage Therapist may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Kelly via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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